“Why are you so slow?” the howler monkey asked one day. But the sloth didn’t answer.

“Why are you so quiet?” the caiman asked. But the sloth didn’t answer.

“Why are you so boring?” the anteater asked. But the sloth didn’t answer.

“Tell me,” said the jaguar, “why are you so lazy?” The sloth thought and thought and thought for a long, long, long time.

Finally, the sloth replied, “It is true that I am slow, quiet and boring. I am lackadaisical, I dawdle and I dillydally. I am also unflappable, languid, stoic, impassive, sluggish, lethargic, placid, calm, mellow, laid-back and, well, slothful! I am relaxed and tranquil, and I like to live in peace. But I am not lazy.” Then the sloth yawned and said, “That’s just how I am. I like to do things slowly, slowly, slowly.”